Ventilation flap arrangement, method for the production thereof and embossing die used in this method

Abstract

A ventilation flap arrangement, in particular for venting a motor vehicle interior, comprises one or a plurality of flexible cover flaps and a frame for holding the cover flaps, the frame having a receiving groove for a cover flap, the receiving groove being formed by two side cheeks, and the cover flap being non-detachably connected, at its longitudinal edge, with the receiving groove of the frame by embossing. This embossed connection acts upon the cover flap in a clamping manner in a longitudinal-edge clamping area thereof. In each case one or a plurality of openings are provided close to the longitudinal edge at least on one side of the longitudinal-edge clamping area of the cover flap, with the side cheek projecting therein with in each case one embossed projection without applying a clamping force.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ventilation flap arrangement, comprising
 one of the group comprising one and a plurality of flexible cover flaps and   a frame for holding the cover flaps, the frame having a receiving groove for a cover flap, the receiving groove being formed by two side cheeks, and the cover flap being non-detachably connected, at its longitudinal edge, with the receiving groove of the frame by embossing,   
       wherein this embossed connection
 acts upon the cover flap in a clamping manner in a longitudinal-edge clamping area thereof, and 
 one of the group comprising one and a plurality of openings formed close to the longitudinal edge are in each case provided at least on one side of the longitudinal-edge clamping area of the cover flap, with at least one side cheek projecting therein with in each case one embossed projection without applying a clamping force. 
 
     
     
         2 . The ventilation flap arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein it is configured for venting a motor vehicle interior. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilation flap arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cover flap is acted upon in a clamping manner in a longitudinal-edge central area configured as clamping area, and the in each case one of the group comprising at least one and the plurality of openings formed close to the longitudinal edge are provided on both sides thereof to hold the cover flap without applying a clamping force. 
     
     
         4 . The ventilation flap arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the openings are each configured as one of the group comprising elongate holes and punched slots the longitudinal extension direction of which runs parallel to the adjacent edge of the cover flap. 
     
     
         5 . The ventilation flap arrangement as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the punched slots are provided with notched relief holes at their ends. 
     
     
         6 . The ventilation flap arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the clamping area of the cover flap, which is acted upon in a clamping manner, has a length of approx. 10% to 15% of the longitudinal dimension of the cover flap. 
     
     
         7 . The ventilation flap arrangement as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the central area of the cover flap, which is acted upon in a clamping manner, has a length of approx. 10% to 15% of the longitudinal dimension of the cover flap. 
     
     
         8 . The ventilation flap arrangement as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said length amounts to approx. 1 cm to 1.5 cm. 
     
     
         9 . The ventilation flap arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein two to six openings provided on both sides of the central area of the cover flap. 
     
     
         10 . The ventilation flap arrangement as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein four openings are provided on both sides of the central area of the cover flap. 
     
     
         11 . The ventilation flap arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cover flaps are made of a soft elastic material, which is selected from one of the group comprising
 an extruded EPDM,   an extruded thermoplastic elastomer such as one of the group comprising TPS, TPO, TPV, TPC, TPU and TPA, and   a thermoplastic elastomer processed to form the cover flap by one of the group comprising injection molding and compression injection molding.   
     
     
         12 . The ventilation flap arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the receiving grooves are configured such as to taper in the direction of their groove base. 
     
     
         13 . A method of producing a ventilation flap arrangement, comprising the following method steps:
 providing one of the group comprising one and a plurality of flexible cover flaps,   providing a frame for holding the cover flaps, wherein the frame has a receiving groove for a cover flap, the receiving groove being formed by two side cheeks,   inserting an edge of the cover flap between the two side cheeks of the receiving groove of the frame, and   non-detachably connecting the cover flap with the receiving groove by embossing,   
       wherein the embossing operation is carried out in such a way that
 the cover flap is acted upon in a clamping manner only in its longitudinal-edge clamping area, and 
 on both sides of the longitudinal-edge clamping area of the cover flap, the at least one side cheek projects, with in each case one embossed projection, in one of the group comprising one and a plurality of openings formed close to the longitudinal edge without applying a clamping force. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the embossing operation is carried out in such a way that the cover flap is acted upon in a clamping manner only in its central area. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein on both sides of the central area of the cover flap, the at least one side cheek projects, with in each case one embossed projection, in one of the group comprising one and a plurality of openings formed close to the longitudinal edge without applying a clamping force. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the application of a force on the side cheeks for clamping the clamping area of the cover flap and the formation of the embossed projections is produced by one of the group comprising an embossing die acting thereon on one side and an embossing die pair acting thereon on both sides. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the application of a force on the side cheeks for clamping the central area of the cover flap and the formation of the embossed projections is produced by one of the group comprising an embossing die acting thereon on one side and an embossing die pair acting thereon on both sides 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the clamping of the clamping area of the cover flap and the formation of the embossed projections are carried out at the same time in one manufacturing step by means of one of the group comprising an embossing die and an embossing die pair acting thereon on both sides. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the clamping of the central area of the cover flap and the formation of the embossed projections are carried out at the same time in one manufacturing step by means of one of the group comprising an embossing die and an embossing die pair acting thereon on both sides. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the area of the at least one side cheek to be embossed is exposed to ultrasound. 
     
     
         21 . An embossing die for use in a method as claimed in  claim 13  for the production of a ventilation flap arrangement, wherein the embossing die has an embossing edge with protruding embossing teeth. 
     
     
         22 . The embossing die as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the embossing teeth providing the clamping of one of the group comprising the clamping area and the central area protrude slightly beyond the remaining embossing teeth. 
     
     
         23 . The embossing die as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the embossing teeth providing the clamping of one of the group comprising the clamping area and the central area protrude beyond the remaining embossing teeth in the range of a tenth of a millimeter.